[hackerspaces] Floating community equipment sets?

[Joshua Pritt]

So you're talking about a hackerspace in a box?  I think there has been
several ideas for a project like this.
On May 7, 2016 11:44 AM, "William Macfarlane" <wmacfarl at gmail.com> wrote:

> How many?  I have a lot of thoughts, but my first is that the differences
> between a set of 12, a set of 40 and a set of 100 are big enough to make
> them different problems...
>
> On Sat, May 7, 2016 at 10:40 AM, Shirley Hicks <shirley at velochicdesign.com
> > wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>> We have an unaddressed need in the greater Birmingham, AL metro area for
>> a floating set of laptops, arduinos/inventor’s kits that could be loaned
>> out to multiple community groups already working with kids, teens and
>> adults, but who are having difficulties finding budget room for
>> instructional kits, or bureaucratic room (IT security concerns) regarding
>> adding additional IDEs and other software tools to their networked
>> computers.
>>
>> The few community groups who have attempted this haven’t been the most
>> tech savvy and have run into problems with budgeting maintenance and
>> eventual replacement into their programs, as well as instruction. They also
>> haven’t scaled - lack of communication between different parts of the
>> community (black/white, urban/suburban/exurban, no one regional school
>> system, biggest library system underfunded).
>>
>> Our makerspace is in the unique position of knowing most of the people
>> who want to do more of this stuff within their individual community groups
>> - and having the technical and financial background to get this rolling for
>> the long-term.
>>
>> I’m planning to write a grant application in June, but need some help
>> finding financial models from other community groups and makerspace who
>> have gone down this road. I’m specifically looking for experiences with kit
>> durability, need for replacement parts, laptop maintenance needs, any paid
>> staff costs that need to be allowed for, and the financial planning
>> required to do it all.
>>
>> Any pointers would be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Shirley Hicks
>> Red Mountain Makers
>> Birmingham, AL
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>
>
>
> --
> -Will
> www.partsandcrafts.org
>
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>
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